Relay



Jan. 7, 1930. C, F, QUICK ET AL v 1,742,875

RELAY Filed April 30. 1928 Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE RELAY Application led April 30,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in relays.

One object of the invention is to provide a relay for opening and closing an electric circuit in a simple and efficient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relay having a short throw wiping contact which assures a positive connection at all times.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a relay having a comparatively few number of parts and employing a gravity Contact, whereby electrical connection is ef fected without the use of spring contacts and also whereby a short movement of the relay armature makes and breaks the circuit.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention,

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specifications and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a relay constructed in accordance with the invention and showing an armature swung to open the circuit,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the armature swung to close the circuit,

Fig 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail in plan of the contact bar and its mounting.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a support which may be a plate or any other mounting suitable for the purpose. At each end of the plate a bracket 11 is fastened and an electro-magnet 12 is attached to the other bracket. The brackets and magnets may be of any suitable construction. An armature 14 is pivoted to swing between the magnets so as to be alternately attracted thereby. The armature has a thin switch blade 15 at its upper end and a pivoted contact bar 16 rests upon the upper edge of said blade.

When the magnet 12 is energized and the armature 14 thus attracted the upper edge of the blade 15 will ride along the under surface of the bar 16 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, .An

1928'. Serial No, 273,884,

insert 17 of insulating material' is dove-tailed, or otherwise secured, in the bottom of the bar so that its exposedsurface is flush with the bottom surface of said bar. Itis essential that this insert be composed of'some material capable orV withstanding wear substantially the same asV the metalV bar so as toconstantly maintain the smooth, and flush surface relation. l/Ve have found discarded talking machine recordv disks to provide an ideal ma terial, but the invention is not to be limited to such material.

When the armature is swung by the magnet 12 the blade will' ride from the bar 16 onto the surface of the insulating insert 17, thus opening the circuit between the armature and said bar. When the magnet 13 is energized the parts will be moved to `the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby the circuit between the armature and the bar will be closed.

The armature 14 is pivoted on a post 18 below the magnets, asis shown in detail in Fig. 3. This post has. connection with one side of the circuit which it is desired to openand close. In order to prevent arcing and assuring a good Contact, a light spring arm 19 fastened to the lower end of the armature constantly bears upon the rounded post and thus should the pivot connection of the armature become loose, an effective contact will be maintained at all times.`

Thel contact bar 16 is pivoted at one end upon a post 2O above the magnet 13 so that said bar will rest upon the blade 15, thereby making a gravity Contact. A spring arm 21 fastened on the bar constantly bears on the post 2O forassuring a circuit contact.

The post 20 has connection with the other side of the electrical circuit which it is desired to control through the armature and bar. v The magnets 12 and 13 are, of course, separately controlled so that when the armature 14 is attracted the magnet circuit may be broken so as not to interfere with the circuit through the armature and bar.

rFhe freedom of movement of the armature 14 and bar 16, the latter having only a minimum movement, is an important feature. The short stroke of the armature blade,

whereby the latter moves only a short da tance from the bar to the insert 17, is of great advantage. The upper edge of the blade 15 is protected from dust and other accumulations because it is constantly covered by either' the bar 16 or the insert 17. The edge of the blade moving along the bottom surface of the, bar 16 and the insert 17 provides a wiping` contact which keeps these surfaces clean and assures proper functioning. The spring arms 19 and 21 permit loose pivoting of the armature and bar, thus contributing to the free movement of said parts.

Various changes in the size and the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

That we claim, is

1. In a relay, a pair of electromagnet-s, an armature mounted to swing between said magnets, and a contact bar supported by said armature and having` an insulating insert engaged by said armature when the latter is moved toward one magnet.

2. In a relay, a swinging armature, a contact bar resting on said armature and having electrical Contact therewith, an insulating surface on the face of said bar engaged by said armature when the latter is swung, and means for 'swinging said armature.

3. In a relay, a swinging armature, a pivoted contact bar resting on said armature and having electrical contact therewith, spring contact arms carried by the armature and bar and having contact with the pivotal mountings of said armature and said bar, an insulating insert in the face of said bar engaged by said armature when the latter is swung, and means for swinging said armashape of ture.

4e. In a relay, a pair of electro-magnets, an armature mounted to swing between said magnets, a Contact blade carried by said armature at its free end, and a Contact bar rest-ing on the upper edge of said blade and having an insulating insert located to be engaged by the edge of the blade when the armature is swung toward one magnet.

5. In a relay, a pair of electro-magnets, an upright armature mounted to swing between said magnets, a Contact bla de extending from the upper end of the armature, a horizontal pivoted Contact bar resting upon the upper edge of the blade, and an insulating insert in the bottom of sai :il bar located to be engaged by the upper edge of the blade when the arinature is swung.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signaturcs.

CHARLES F. QUICK. GEORGE IV. TAMSITT. 

